Elle Defends Controversial Melissa McCarthy Cover

Melissa McCarthy was among the women chosen for Elle's November Women in Hollywood issue, but not everyone is happy with her choice of style, according to Us Weekly.The cover featuring the Mike Molly star has caused a stir from ...

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By TV Guide

Wayne Post

By TV Guide

Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 6:27 PM

By TV Guide

Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 6:27 PM

Melissa McCarthy was among the women chosen for Elle's November Women in Hollywood issue, but not everyone is happy with her choice of style, according to Us Weekly.

The cover featuring the Mike & Mollystar has caused a stir from fans who think she is dressed more conservatively than the other women featured, including Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Penelope Cruz. McCarthy was photographed in a seemingly oversized winter coat and with a voluminous hair 'do covering part of her face. In contrast, Witherspoon was pictured in a tight black dress revealing some cleavage and Woodley was outfitted in black underwear, a white tank top with a black motorcycle jacket covering one half of her upper body. Cruz, who was pregnant during the shoot, and had the focus just on her bare face.

"[She] was photographed in a Marina Rinaldi coat so huge that she could hide her Mike and Molly co-star Billy Gardel underneath," Slate's culture editor June Thomas wrote in an essay criticizing McCarthy's shoot. "McCarthy's hair covers a quarter of her gorgeous face, and with her hands stuffed deep into her coat pockets, the only visible flesh is a tiny triangle between the coat's lapels and the briefest glimpse of calf."

Elle issued a statement defending how McCarthy was styled. "On all of our shoots, our stylists work with the stars to choose pieces they feel good in, and this is no different: Melissa loved this look, and is gorgeous on our cover," the magazine said in a statement. "We are thrilled to honor her as one of our Women in Hollywood this year."